Source: https://www.insurancejournal.com/, October 2, 2023 By: Anthony Andersen and Larry Moonan Technology has revolutionized the architecture and engineering (A&E) design space over the past 40 to 50 years, allowing for improved efficiency and faster architectural design and output. However, these technological advances can also increase the chance for error — or in insurance terms, exposure […]

Source: Berkley Construction Professional A mechanical contractor underdesigned an HVAC system for a food processing facility. This led to worker illness and the inability of the facility to be utilized for its intended purpose. An outside engineer had to be retained to alter the HVAC system. Damages included lost profits from facility downtime, worker injuries, re-design […]

Source: Distinguished Programs A specialty contractor was hired by a general contractor (GC) to design and build a retaining wall for a commercial development. The GC was responsible for the  initial site development and infrastructure. Upon completion, the building developed cracks in both the walls and floors. It was determined that the design of the  […]

Source: https://beyondpesticides.org/, October 3, 2023 On September 19, 2023, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Corporation Counsel Mary B. Richardson-Lowry took legal action against agrochemical giant, Monsanto, filing a lawsuit that alleges the corporation’s role in polluting Chicago with Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) decades ago, despite knowing the chemicals’ detrimental effects.   PCBs are identified as “forever chemicals” due to […]

Source: https://hickoryrecord.com/, October 3, 2023 By: Kevin Kriffin Litigation over the collapse of the Hickory arches is coming to a close as the city of Hickory finalizes a settlement with four companies and one engineer. The parties came to terms during mediation in August, according to court documents. The mediation grew out of Hickory’s lawsuit […]

Source: Distinguished Programs A heavy highway and bridge contractor was hired to build an elevated highway. The contractor hired an engineer to design the temporary support structures (falsework) to be used to support the permanent structure until the highway was completed. A design flaw in the falsework caused a partial collapse of the highway resulting […]

Source: https://www.courthousenews.com/, September 28, 2023 By: Joe Kelly The city of Milwaukee’s government sued Monsanto on Thursday over ongoing contamination of its water systems by PCBs, a family of human-made toxic chemicals the agrochemical giant used in its products for decades. PCBs, or polychlorinated biphenyls, are tasteless, odorless organic chemicals used in a variety of industrial and […]

Source: https://www.theartnewspaper.com/, September 27, 2023 By: Elena Goukassia San Francisco’s Asian Art Museum is suing Why Architects and Swinerton Builders over a $38m museum addition designed by the firm and built by the construction company. The museum announced the lawsuit in a press release on 25 September, saying that the legal action follows a claim filed against the […]

Source: Distinguished Programs A specialty concrete contractor under a design-build contract for a parking garage hired an engineering firm to  provide the structural specifications. Following construction, the garage owner noticed cracks in the support  columns. The cause was determined to be that the rebar specified in the engineering plan was insufficient to support  the structure. […]

Source: https://www.lexology.com/, September 21, 2023 By: Troutman Pepper Michigan Attorney General (AG) Dana Nessel has filed suit against the Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority to enforce demands by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) related to alleged per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) contamination of the regional drinking water supply caused by the […]

Source: https://business.libertymutual.com/ironshore/ Looking to the future, many enthusiastically embrace a clean energy shift, including a continued move away from coal-derived energy. Meanwhile, electric utility  companies are pressed to remove and legally dispose of hundreds of millions of tons of coal ash generated over the last 100 years as a by-product of coal-derived  energy. As planners […]

Source: Distinguished Programs A roofing contractor was hired to design and install the roof of a new office building including a solar panel array. The design was performed in-house by a  licensed PE employed by the contractor. After the building was complete, the roof collapsed during an ice storm. The PE failed to consider the […]